Breeding capsule



Oct 22, 1940. F. B. GRAHAM BREEDING CAPSULE Filed Sept. 28, 1956Patented Oct. 22, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to capsules and particularly to water solublecapsules suitable for use in impregnating animals.

A method of impregnating animals, and especially mares, that is becomingextensively used, contemplates the breeding of several mares by a singlenatural service of the stallion. This, in general, is accomplished asfollows: The stallion is allowed to make a natural service in theregular way. The semen which is deposited in the uterus or vagina iscollected within the mare in several capsule containers; the containersare removed from the mare, enclosed by a suitable cap and then one ofthese loaded capsules is inserted into the uterus of each of the maresto be bred.

Since the success of this method of breeding depends to a marked degreeon the proper handling of the semen in order to keep the cells alive,the temperature of the semen must be maintained with certain limits;also it must not be exposed too much to the light.

The capsules are made of a water soluble material such as gelatine,therefore much care must be taken to complete the breeding operationbefore the capsule has had time to soften suiciently to collapse beforeit has been deposited in the uterus of the mare to be bred. When usingthe standard capsule much difficulty is experienced due to the fact thatthe container becomes moistened when the semen is being obtained fromthe mare, and if a delay is experienced in positioning the cap on thecontainer, 35 then the body of the container may collapse and a properservice cannot be made. It is to overcome these diiiiculties and to-makeit possible for those less experienced in this method of impregnation tosuccessfully perform the process that this invention has been developed.

The principal object of the present invention is the production of acapsule for breeding purposes, having a container and a cap having aside wall coextensive with the side wall of the container and adapted tosubstantially cover the same.

A further object is the production of a breeding capsule having a capared outwardly at its open end and gradually reduced at its opposite endwith a relatively small opening formed through thc outer extremitythereof.

With these and other objects which will appear during the course of thespecification in view, reference will now be had to the drawing,wherein:

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(Cl. 12S-272) Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section of a capsuleembodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the capsule.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the capsule.

Fig. 4 is an inverted plan view of the capsule.

Fig

. 5 is an elevation of cap.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of container, and

Fig. 'l is a sectional View of the capsule with a charge of semencontained therein.

The container or body of the capsule I0, comprises preferably a hollowcylindrical shaped wall I2 with a semi-spherical closed end I4 and anopen end I6. This form of container is now in general use and has provenvery satisfactory, however, without departing from the spirit of thisinvention many other forms might be used. The cap I8 which is made totelescope and snugly t the container is provided with side wall 20 whichis preferably coextensive With the side wall of the container, therebyproducing substantially a double wall for the capsule when in use. Theopen end of the cap is -flared outwardly to produce a substantiallyfrusta-conical flange 22. The opposite end of the cap is graduallyreduced to produce a pointed nose 24 which is substantially conical inshape. Formed through the outer wall of nose 24 is a relatively smallopening 26.

The container and cap are constructed of a water soluble material suchas gelatine, etc. which will readily dissolve when in the uterus,thereby releasing the semen.

'I'he function of the perforated cap is to allow a ow of a suicientquantity of the fluid from Within the container to lubricate the capsuleand the adjacent membranes to facilitate proper lubrication.

In the use of the capsule the semen is gathered into the container andthen withdrawn from the animal. 'I'he cap is then slipped to positionover the container, thereby presenting a clean, dry outer surface forconvenient han dling. The flared open end of the cap not only makes itpossible to easily position the cap on the container but also serves asa linger hold while placing the capsule during the breeding operation.The double wall of the capsule when capped, presents a structure thatwill remain rigid and permit handling for a period of time suilicientfor the breeding operation.

The perforation in the cap also functions to permit air t0 escape fromthe capsule as the cap is being moved to position on the container. Thisis very important since with a closed cap and a 66 moist container thecap has a tendency 'to rebound because of the compression of air withinthe capsule. Furthermore, this opening allows a bred in the natural way,may b e bred by the use of this improved breeding capsule.

'I'he use of this capsule is not to be limited to any particular speciesof animal, neither is it necx essary to follow any definitely prescribedprocedure in its operation. Since this capsule is easily and quicklycapped and may be held substantially covered in the operators hand, thetemperature of the semen will not drop suilciently to eect itsusefulness nor will it be exposed too long to the light.

It is apparent that thi's novelly constructed breeding capsule willfunction to properly transfer semen from one mare to another, can beeasily and quickly capped and will Yeflect proper lubricating of themembranes whenever necessary.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A breeding capsule comprising a container having an open end; a caphaving a side wall cextensive with and adapted to contact the side wallof said container; an outwardly extending iiange at the open end of saidcap; and a conical shaped nose at the other end of said cap.

2. A breeding capsule of water soluble material comprising a containerhaving a cylindrical shaped side wall and a semi-spherical end wall; acap having cylindrical shaped side walls coextensive with the side wallof said container, a conical shaped nose extending from one end o! saidcap and an outwardly extending ilange projecting from the other endthereof. l

3. A breeding capsule comprising a container having an openend and aclosed end; a cap having a conical nose adapted to vcompletely encompasssaid container to close the open end thereof; and an outwardlyprojecting iiange at the open end of said cap extending beyond thenormally closed end of said container. 'f' Y 4. A soluble breedingcapsule comprising a container having an open end; a cap having a sidewall coextensive rwith the side wall of said container; a flange at theopen end of said cap and a reduced noseA having a relatively smallopening formed therethrough at the other end thereof.

,FRANK B. GRAHAM.

